PSL 2017 final confirmed in Lahore

The final match of the much-anticipated PSL 2017 will be held in Lahore on March 9 and the board is also planning to hold a draft in February to replace overseas players who are unwilling to travel to Pakistan due to security reasons, as confirmed by the PCB.

The PCB chairman, Najam Sethi, ordered to bring in new overseas players who will be willing to travel the country in place to those who opt out – the decision was taken after several foreign players showed shrinking appetite to travel the country due to safety.

The board also said in case no foreign players agree to play the final in Lahore, it will replace them with local players.

“In the recent governing board meeting it was decided that the final of PSL will be held in Lahore,” a PCB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. “PCB will try to convince players to travel to Pakistan but in the worst case scenario we will have a new draft for the players who are ready to tour Pakistan.”

“The second edition of the PSL, with five teams in the competition, will be more successful and the final will be held in Lahore,” Sethi, who is also the head of the PCB, said. “International players know what we can do; most of them are ready to come to Pakistan and play. We have signed players with a condition that if their team reaches the final, they will have to go to Lahore and they have all agreed.

“It will be a fly-in, fly-out plan and the government has promised to give full security to the players. We are convinced that the final will happen in Lahore.”

FICA, the international players’ association, said the assessment is has received it that traveling to Pakistan is still a risk for international teams. However, an updated independent assessment is being carried out which will play a big part in players’ decision making.

Apart from PSL final, the PCB has also requested West Indies to tour Pakistan for two T20’s in Lahore before flying out to play another T20 series in Florida. This visit is subject to security clearances and agreement from the West Indies Players’ body.